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Letters from World War II is a recommended novel set in World War II that really puts a human perspective into one of humanity’s worst and bloodiest conflicts. While there are a myriad reasons that contributed to destruction that WWII caused, there is no denying that a key factor was that it was a many sided conundrum–and that is saying little.

Because of its global scale, the Second World War was unparalleled in its destruction and violence. Seventy-five million people died in its wake, not to mention the violence that succeeded it in the form of uprisings, revolutions, etc.

The entirety of the globe was engulfed in bloody conflict and brutal combat. Yet, it was not a war that occurred simply along a contiguous landscape. While the Second World War was overarching, the fighting was spread out across the globe, divided into distinct theaters; and while each had its own objectives and dynamics, there was still immense human cost either way.

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A Many-Sided Conundrum

The most important and largest of these divided fronts were the Eastern, Western and Pacific Fronts–these were where the fates of nations and the fate of the world were decided. For scholars of history and those with a keen interest, understanding the dynamics of each front is crucial to grasping the complexity of this many-sided conundrum.

The Eastern Front: Fascism Vs. Communism

The most brutal and decisive theater of World War II was the Eastern Front; this was where Nazi Germany put millions upon millions on the grinder, attempting to destroy the Soviet Union. Across thousands of miles, stretching from the Arctic to the Black Sea, the Eastern Front was the stage for ideology, resources, and sheer human willpower.

It all began with Operation Barbarossa in 1941, which saw German forces attempt to swiftly invade the Soviet Union to commandeer its vast resources and destroy the ideology of communism from the root.

The battles waged on the Eastern Front were devastating. Because of the Wehrmacht’s blitzkrieg tactics, the Red Army was caught unprepared and suffered catastrophic losses. Millions were slaughtered. However, in the coming months, the Soviet Union would mount a swift response and fierce resistance, which gradually slowed down the German advance and would eventually culminate in the invasion of Berlin, which saw the toppling of the Third Reich and the liberation of Europe from fascist tyranny.

The Western Front: The Bulwark of Democracy

On the Western Front, the rest of the Allies–primarily led by the United States and the United Kingdom–faced the Nazi occupation of Western Europe. While the Front opened up much later than the Eastern Front, it was no less daunting and destructive. There were limited engagements earlier, but the true start was the Allied landings in Normandy on June 6, 1944, which would be etched into history as D-Day. The massive series of amphibious assaults was followed by months of even more intense fighting all across France, Germany, and Italy. This was the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation.

Before the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe, there had already been strategic bombing campaigns against German industrial and military targets to weaken the Nazi war machine. This served to create wider opportunities for the Allies during their invasion, pushing through France despite fierce German resistance and reaching Berlin, meeting with the Soviets to fully destroy the Nazi regime.

The Pacific Front: Imperialism Across the Sea

Across the Pacific, the largest expanse of water on Earth, the Empire of Japan and the Allies fought fiercely against each other. The Pacific Front was also the most geographically complicated theater. Naval battles occurred across immense distances and island-hopping campaigns happened that were met with ferocious resistance from Japanese forces.

When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the Pacific Front was opened, and the United States and its territories pulled into the Second World War.

While the initial phase of the Pacific Front saw the Japanese conquering Southeast Asia swiftly and planting a solid hold foothold, the tides turned after a series of American victories.

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During the war, valor and heroism flourished, and if you want to know more about these personal stories, Barbara Jane Hannon’s Letters from World War II is available here on this website. CLICK THIS LINK TO ORDER A COPY.